Sister Ripplinger's Weekly Letter, September 19, 2012

My dear friends and family,

This week has been ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The week started out kind of rough, which I knew meant that something really good was about to happen!  I could feel Satan attacking, and I just had to keep eternal perspective-remember that this phase is temporary. I've adopted the new motto "Fight Hard" when it comes to putting up a fight against Satan. Don't ever let him get you down. Keep going! Endure well and make the most of the situation. Find joy in the journey! 

So a few funny things that happened this week... Sister McInelly and I were serving on the main floor of the Visitor's Center and this couple from New Zealand walks in. A senior missionary told them that there were Australians in just a few moments before. Instantly, the man's head whips around and he yells, across the Visitor's Center (in a thick New Zealander accent) "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!!!! Oy! Oy! Oy!!!!"  hahahaha Maybe you had to have been there, but it was hilarious. =) 

Another funny experience... Sister Dransfield and I had to teach President and Sister Gilliland the Plan of Salvation lesson. (They were role playing investigators). They gave us a run for our money. We got out of there and Sister Dransfield and I drooped into the car. Glad that's over with!!! hahaha Just kidding, we loved it. It was a good learning experience. It's just kind of terrifying to teach your mission president and not let him trick you into traps. =) 

I had a neat experience when I called a certain referral from Pageant. I called this man (Jerome) and immediately upon introducing myself, he went off about how much he hates Romney. Jerome is gay and he thinks it is ridiculous that we live in America and he can't do what he wants. I felt like I needed to keep listening, patiently, so I did. After about ten minutes of this angry explanation, he told me that Mormons believe that gay people are bad and that God doesn't love them. He said that his sister had just barely called and chewed him out for being gay. I could just feel that he needed to feel of Heavenly Father's love for him. So I testified that Heavenly Father loves him so much and is aware of the hurtful things that people say and the difficulties that he is experiencing. I felt an instant change. Jerome started crying on the other end of the phone and said that no one had ever told him that God loves him. He told me that he became gay because he never felt loved during his childhood. I could feel Heavenly Father's love for this guy-so strongly. In the end, Jerome agreed to let missionaries come visit him and he said that he had a lot to think about because he knows he needs to make changes in his life. 

There was another person that had been called several times and hadn't answered the phone yet. I saw the card laying on the floor and felt like it needed to be called again. So I called and the man answered!!!!! He is working on the roof at a Stake Center and graciously said that he would love to have the missionaries come teach him because he had such a good feeling when he was working on the church house. 

It's the time of year that we get to serve on Mormon.org chat again!!!! We learned how to use it in the MTC, but haven't used it since. Sister Christensen and I were on there one day and having a whole bunch of weirdos come in. She had never done chat before and was wondering if it was like that all the time. So we said a prayer and I asked that we could have a good experience and be able to share the gospel with someone that was prepared to receive it. A few minutes later, a young man named Nick (from England), pops up and has a few questions. Four months before, elders had stopped him on the street, gave him a Mormon.org card, and briefly spoke with him. He looked at the card a few times, then lost it. Then a friend of his, gave him another Mormon.org card and he decided he wanted to look into it. So, here he was on chat with us! We answered his questions and had a REALLY good conversation with him! We asked if he would like to have the elders come and share more with him and he was SOOOOO excited!!!!! He gave us all of his information and we sent the missionaries over to visit him the next day!!!! It was such a neat experience! Heavenly Father heard our prayer. 

Elder Choi (member of the First Quorum of the Seventy) and his wife were in Nauvoo for the last several days. I had the privilege of speaking in Sacrament meeting with him right behind me. =) Right before the meeting started, he walked in and shook our hands on the stand, then sat down. All the sudden, a flash back of General Conference a few times ago came flooding back. He spoke in General Conference and I remembered exactly what he spoke about. I looked over in his direction and gulped. hahaha I had to say a prayer that I would remain calm and deliver the message I had prepared. That prayer was answered and I was just fine. But it was still really cool. =) 

The next day I was one of a few missionaries that got a personal interview with him. That was absolutely amazing. As I sat down and started talking with him, I had this feeling that it really difficult to describe. As I looked him straight in the eyes, I just felt of Christ's countenance. I felt incredibly peaceful and right at home. Before he came from Salt Lake, he was given keys to come on this special assignment. I could feel that authority and power radiating from him. It made me think about how familiar we will be when we see Christ again. I think it will shock us. I know that talking with Elder Choi seemed oddly familiar and I could feel of the Savior's love. Needless to say, the interview was one that deepened my testimony and my faith. He wanted to know about my favorite parts of being a missionary, what has been most difficult, and so on. I have loved being able to attend the temple every week, gaining close relationships with faithful sisters, and being set apart as a missionary. It's been difficult to serve in a Visitor's Center and not be able to finish what I start. I am so grateful for the experiences that I've had here. It takes a lot of faith and my faith is being strengthened. Elder Choi looked deep into my eyes and responded, "You have been called to labor in this vineyard for a time, Sister Ripplinger. He has many more experiences ahead. Do not worry." Just seeing the way that faith burned in his eyes strengthened my testimony. 

The next morning, we woke up at the crack of dawn for mission-wide training. Sister Streeter and Sister Zibetti sang "Be Still My Soul" and I was able to accompany them on the piano. I never cease to be amazed with Heavenly Father's merciful hand. We had very little time to practice that song the first time, which was several months ago. We practiced for a short time this last week, and then performed it in training. Somehow, that difificult, changes key four times, song just worked out. =) I'm so eternally grateful!!!! I had the opportunity to hear from Elder and Choi and his wife speak Sunday evening in a fireside, Monday and Tuesday morning in mission training, and THEN, all of us sister missionaries had a full day of special training with him. We went over to President's house and learned all types of profound and really good things. We were able to have pizza all together for lunch and I absolutely LOVED it. At one big table, all twelve sisters, President and Sister Gilliland, and Elder and Sister Choi gathered together. 

Having them here has extended my vision of my future. Heavenly Father helped me understand more about what is going to happen in my life and what will be expected. I received SO MANY promptings from the Holy Ghost that I took 10 pages of notes. Elder Choi and his wife sacrifice so much to serve in the capacity that they do. He talked about how when they were called into the Seventy, they had to give up all of their hobbies and little things that they do for fun. They literally are full time servants of the Lord. And I could FEEL of that, bursting from them. They have consecrated their lives to serving the Lord and they radiate His love. I want to follow their examples. I want people to feel of Heavenly Father's love when they look in my eyes and feel it beaming from across the room. They were simply amazing. I just learned so much- from their examples and from what they taught. 

This is the Lord's work and I'm so grateful to be a missionary!!!!!! I'm soaking up these last few weeks and I love spending time with the senior missionaries. They are such incredible examples. I love them!!!! I love Sister Christensen and am so grateful that I get to be with her. Life's really good. =) 

Heavenly Father loves you soooo much! I love you, too! 

Love,

Sister Heather Ripplinger

Sister Ripplinger's Weekly Letter, September 24, 2012

My dear friends and family,

I am completely composed as I type this.... =)
Guess.....WHAT....?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?! We all got our new mission assignments last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going all over the place!

I'm going to ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other sisters and their assignments:

Umphenour-Washington

Kim-Alabama

McInelly-Louisiana

Dransfield-Virginia

Zibetti-Washington D.C.

Petricek-South Carolina

Brown-Mesa, AZ

Garner-VEGAS!!!

Streeter-Montana

Last night, we had district meetings and then went over to President and Sister Gilliland's house for a "fireside". Sister Gilliland taught us how to be healthy and all for our new areas...then El Presidente' joined us in the living room. He whipped out a white piece of paper and smiled. We all squealed and panicked!!! Oh my goodness! This is it! These are our new mission calls!!!!!!!!!!! He sat calmly on his king chair and announced them one by one, alphabetically. We were all holding onto each other's hands with death grips and I could feel all of us trembling. =) haha I absolutely LOVED it!!!!! When he announced that I was going to Roseville, California I just knew that was the place for me. I'm SOOOOO excited! It's right by Sacramento. 

Earlier this morning, we went to an endowment session in the temple and I was praying for ideas of how to prepare in the next two weeks before I arrive in good ol' California. I have an article about Elder Oaks being interviewed by the press about gay rights and I haven't made time to study it yet. The press asks him several difficult questions and he answers them like an Apostle. =) I feel like I need to study that really hard and be ready to respectfully stand for families. I received several other promptings and I'm just really, really, really excited about going to California!!!!! YAY!!!!!! =D 

We fly out of St. Louis on October 9th! I'll probably have a few layovers and I'm excited to be in the airports again. =) I'm excited to be in a big town area, I'm excited for a winter in California. I'm REALLY, really excited to be able to teach in homes and I already love those people that I'm going to meet. Oh how great is my joy. =) This has gotta be the good life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I'll let you know my mission address and everything as soon as I know. =) 

I've loved being in Nauvoo and LOVED going to the temple once a week. I'm going to soak up these last two weeks and make the very most of them. 

Men are that they might have joy and we only have but one life to live, so let's live it up! =)

Love,

Sister Ripplinger

Sister Ripplinger's Weekly Letter, Sept. 10, 2012

From: Heather Ripplinger <heather.ripplinger@myldsmail.net>
To: Nikki Ripplinger <bnripp@yahoo.com>; nauvoo president <nauvoopresident@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 11:37 AM
Subject: The Final Four....Weeks

My dear friends and family,

Life in Nauvoo is absolutely wonderful right now!!!!! The sky is a piercing blue color today-not a cloud in the sky. The temperature is PERFECT!!! There are four weeks left until we fly out of the St. Louis airport to our new missions. We had transfers last night and the verdict is..... drum roll.... I get to keep my beautiful Sister Christensen!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =) I was so incredibly happy to be able to stay with her for one last transfer before she goes home. She has a heart of gold and she is so loving. She is a great leader and I absolutely LOVE spending time with her. She's the kind of person that just does what she knows is right and doesn't judge others. Just because of who she is, she inspires me to be better and better. I LOVE HER!!!!! She is one that I know I will be friends with forever and ever. 

I feel like I've progressed into the Advanced Missionary Training Center. =) Each night, we have role play teaching appointments with the senior missionaries. They have been assigned a specific role to play and we get to teach them the main missionary lessons. Each night, we have a different temporary companion that we go to dinner with and teach two lessons. I am learning SOOO much from these experiences! First, it is really good practice to be able to teach with all types of different personalities. Every night, I'm with a different sister, so I get to learn from them! Everyone contributes different strengths. One sister comes from a family where her dad isn't a member of the Church and she and her mom are converts. She can relate to the investigators because she's been there before. Another sister absolutely loves and adores her family and has an incredible gift to be able to testify of Heavenly Father's love. Each one of the sisters here has special and unique qualities that I'm striving to learn from so that I can relate to the people that the Lord has been preparing. Of course, I am learning sooo much from the senior missionaries. They are all absolutely incredible, jam packed full of knowledge and experience....try to outsmart one of them! =) But it is very helpful to teach them because it makes me recognize what is important to include in the lesson and what's not. Sometimes it makes me chuckle because here we are, these young missionaries...teaching former bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, Relief Society presidents, faithful members of the Church, and people that have worked in the Church Educational System  their entire lives. Needless to say, I'm studying my heart out. The gospel really is so simple, and yet we can study diligently our entire lives, and still keep learning and progressing. I LOVE IT!!!! During one of our lessons, the woman (Sister Green) came out with a ROOT beer bottle that looked like a big, brown bottle of beer. hahahaha I love it when my dear friends take the role on completely and ham it up!!!! Of course, we knew that it wasn't a real bottle and we just have to keep going, even though I want to laugh. =) 

One night I was with Sister Dransfield, and she had just had surgery on her poor mouth. We didn't have a dinner appointment because we were greeting for the evening show, so we went back to the house for dinner. She had an ice pack on her face and I could tell she was hurting. We made some tomato soup and toast, and I realized how much I love the little moments. I love Sister Dransfield and her darling personality and I loved just eating a bowl of soup with her. =) 

I am also realizing how this mission is preparing me for my future life, not just life as a missionary. We get to eat dinner with temple missionaries some nights and they are gushing with gospel knowledge. I LOVE it when they share insights about the temple. Elder Cook shared a scripture in Micah 4:2-3. As he read the scriptures, the Spirit taught me how that related to the temple, and I felt like a little bit of heaven split open. It was sooo neat! The temples are packed full of symbolism. The temples are built (Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord) and people flow to them. "And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths..." 

Elder Flake was a mission president in Australia and shared with us some things he taught his missionaries. He'd take an empty frame up and ask them what they saw. Well...they didn't see a picture of anyone in the empty frame. He taught how their spouses and children exist, but they just aren't in the picture yet. We need to serve our missions with all our hearts and then the frame will be filled in when the time is right. Our family members exist, we just don't know who they are yet. =) I thought it was so cute! Some of the sisters were gagging because it was "too much for them"...hahahaha but Sister Dransfield and I thoroughly loved it. =) I love hearing from the senior missionaries- they are so wise! 

Elder Aulestia is someone that I admire a lot. He is a good, good man. He served as a mission president in Peru and I just feel his goodness radiating from him. He shared his conversion story with me, which I absolutely LOVED. When he was 18 years old, he saw a bunch of smiling people walking into an LDS church house, so he went in to see what was going on. He walked in, looked around, and no one stopped him. He walked on out and no one said anything. 15 years later, two elders started teaching him the missionary lessons. He listened, but refused to do anything else. He went through several sets of elders and heard the lessons several times- well enough that he knew them by heart. Years later, a new elder, fresh out of the MTC came into town. The two elders that were serving in the area asked James (Elder Aulestia) if he would mind accompanying this new elder for teaching appointments. =) (I just started smiling at this part of the story...) James agreed to go with this annoying young elder on the agreement that only the Elder would teach and James could be completely silent. So... of course this poor little guy needed some help. And the Lord knew what James needed. Elder asks if James can please help him and share the First Vision. James is annoyed and says that he isn't even a missionary and he knows the darn lesson! James speaks up and shares the First Vision. Then he asks the investigator, "Do you actually believe this story?!" The man anxiously nodded his head and said that he did. James looked the man in the eyes and knew that he really did believe it. He got mad and left in a hurry. The same thing happens a few times- he gets to basically testify of Joseph Smith and the people believe it. He is shocked and tells the other elders to never come to his house again. A week later, the PROPHET was in town. The phone rings and it's the elders. Long story short, James and his family went to the stake center to meet the prophet, the kids LOVED the prophet, James left angrily, and the stake president stopped him on his way out the door. The look in that stake president's eyes convinced James. James got baptized and years later, he is Elder Aulestia- a former mission president and a current missionary in Nauvoo. He's an incredible man. Who woulda thought? =) 

Elder Aulestia taught me some things that he taught his missionaries in Peru. A good missionary doesn't think BAPTISM, she thinks TEMPLE. A good missionary teaches them to get to the temple and receive those ordinances. She also watches for strong families in the ward to fellowship the investigators and pairs them up according to needs and commonalities. Exact obedience is absolutely key. 

I am soaking up these last few weeks. We serve on the Visitor's Center main floor for about 1 1/2 hours and call the rest of the day. Then we have dinner and teaching appointments with the seniors after 6:00. I set a goal to read True to the Faith, the Bible Dictionary, finish reading the Book of Mormon again, and to write in more apostle and prophet quotes into my scriptures according to topic before we leave in October. I LOVE being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Family and friends... I love you! Thank you for your love and support! I find so much strength from all of you! 

Love,

Sister Heather Ripplinger

Sister Ripplinger's Weekly Letter, September 3, 2012

Our Dear Family and Friends:

I've told you before that I had not seen Blaine truly cry until this year, but today was about the fifth time this year.  We knew that Sister Ripplinger knew when our son, Derek, opened his mission call on Thursday night, because we felt it, and later the mission secretary called us to find out, but we didn't realize how much Sister Ripplinger missed being with us to open it.

The Spirit is felt deeply in our home this week, as Sister Ripplinger continues to serve in Nauvoo with all her heart, and our sweet son, Derek, opened his Mission Call to the Massachusetts Boston Mission - which covers Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, parts of Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire! And he heads to BYU-I this week for one semester.  How blessed we are!

Blaine and Nikki

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Heather Ripplinger <heather.ripplinger@myldsmail.net>
To: Nikki Ripplinger <bnripp@yahoo.com>; nauvoo president <nauvoopresident@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, September 3, 2012 9:19 AM
Subject: Angels to Bear You Up

Dear family and friends,

Life in Nauvoo is really good and it's very peaceful at this time of year. We have finally received rain and what a blessing it is! Everything is still lush and green. The temple is as beautiful as ever and I love Sister Christensen.

Linda Rice is slowly trying to make progress. This week I sent her the missionary pamphlets in the mail (which I "order" through my online area book and the Church sends the material). I thought I was sending her the pamphlets for the first THREE lessons...turns out that she received ALL of the pamphlets in THREE different languages, including English, Spanish, and French. Good thing she only speaks English. hahaha Oops! 

We have been calling several hours a day on the Pageant referrals. I had a neat experience talking with a guy named Christian. I had a huge pile of cards to call, but his was sticking out just a little bit and I felt strongly that I needed to call it first. He is from California and accepted to have missionaries come visit him. I felt like I needed to talk with him more and we ended up discussing Heavenly Father for about 20 minutes. He had doubts about whether God exists and if anyone hears his prayers. He asked me how I know that God exists and I had the opportunity to bear my testimony. When he asked me that question, I felt the Spirit take over and I knew that this young man needed to  receive a very specific answer. What I responded was not something I would usually say when someone asked me that question. Before I started to answer him, I took a long pause and I knew that Heavenly Father needed Christian to know something specific. I had no idea where he was as we were talking, but I literally felt a sense of urgency to testify and let him know that God is his Father in Heaven and is aware of him. I also had the distinct impression that this young man was about to commit suicide. I don't even know how to describe that impression more accurately. I just knew that something was wrong and that the call came at a crucial moment. He sounded like he was in a dark place and he didn't have hope in his voice when we first started talking. At the end of our conversation, Christian said, "I think you just saved a soul today. Thank you."  I got off the phone and just sat there quietly for a few minutes. That was a reflection moment. 

I have been praying fervently and diligently that Heavenly Father would send help to the people that are prepared and are just waiting for the missionaries to teach them. Joanne is the lady from Alaska that wanted to be baptized, when she was here in Nauvoo. She has returned to Alaska now and the Relief Society President has completely swept her into their ward family. Joanne said that she feels so incredibly welcome there and several people have invited her over for dinner. The missionaries are going to teach Joanne at the home of the RS president. I LOVE THAT RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT!!!!!! She is an answer to my prayers. 

There have been SEVERAL people in the Visitor's Center that are not members of the Church and what an opportunity it is to talk with them and teach them about the Restored gospel and about the temple. Romney is providing MANY opportunities for people to investigate the Church. Several people come in and wonder if we are even Christian....guess what! We are VERY much Christian. =) So many people open up their hearts when they start to learn of the truth. I LOVE IT!!!!!

I feel like this week has been more of a growth opportunity for me than anything else.

My brother received his mission call this week (he's going to BOSTON!!!!!!!). I have felt divine help come in the times that I needed help. I love my family with all of my heart and I love my brother, Derek. The night that he opened his mission assignment, I was in the Referral center making calls. I was just doing my thing when all of the sudden I felt the Spirit really strongly and I knew that Derek had opened his white envelope. For a moment, it was really hard. "Heavenly Father, please let Derek know that I'm there in spirit." I had little tears trickling down my face. And then I felt a Heavenly promise be fulfilled and I felt angels around me that were there to bear me up. I was able to keep calling. That night I had more people say "yes" and accept missionaries than any other time that I have called. I have such a strong testimony of divine intervention and the Atonement. The Lord will always give you the strength to keep going if YOU will be committed to keep going. We have our agency. We have to fight hard. We can't give up or slow down. If we are devoted to serving the Lord, we will receive the strength that we need. We have to make the choice to serve God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength...and be tough, even when it's hard. If we do, we will see miracles and receive tender mercies. I couldn't have made it on my own that night. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father heard my prayers and that my brother is going to join the army of missionaries. Incredible experiences lie ahead!!!!! =)

I also know that we have to make the conscious decision to soften our hearts. When challenges come, we must trust the Lord with all of our heart and lean not to our own understanding. =) Heavenly Father is perfect and we just need to trust Him. We just live the gospel with all of our heart and keep our hearts soft as we trust our Father. He has promised that those challenges that we experience are for our gain and they'll make us stronger. He will always provide the way for us when we are keeping the commandments and doing our very best. Without the Savior, we are nothing. Because of the Savior, we can endure well, find joy in the journey, perform the Lord's work, and return to our Heavenly Father's presence. What a blessing that Gospel of Jesus Christ is. I LOVE being a missionary. I LOVE Nauvoo. 

This has gotta be the good life! =)

Love,

Sister Heather Ripplinger